Orvis announced the launch of Buzz Off(TM) Insect Shield Apparel, a new line of insect-repellent clothing, available at select Orvis retail stores nationwide beginning in Fall 2003. A full rollout in all stores, dealers, catalogs, and the web is slated for Spring 2004. Company officials expect Buzz Off® will become the biggest revolution in outdoor technical apparel since the introduction of Gore-Tex® in 1978.

Buzz Off(TM) Apparel from Orvis is a true innovation in bug repellency. It provides all the coverage benefits of a bug spray without the constant reapplication, so the number of insect bites is dramatically reduced without ever having to coat (and recoat) with a spray or cream. That''s because Buzz Off is in the clothing, not on the skin, so it keeps working as long as the garment is being worn.

The new Orvis product provides effective protection against mosquitos, ticks, chiggers, spiders, ants, midges, and flies, thanks to its active ingredient, permethrin, a non-toxic synthetic form of the all-natural insect repellent derived from the chrysanthemum plant. It''s completely safe, EPA and FDA approved, odorless, effortless, and effective through over 25 washings.

"We compare the launch of Buzz Off to the revolutionary impact Gore-Tex had when it was first introduced," says Buzz Off Brand Manager, Ryan Shadrin. "It''s that kind of a seismic change in the way we think of performance clothing."

"Imagine wearing great-looking, casual apparel that also happens to work as well as any insect repellent in preventing mosquito and tick bites. With no odor, no effort, and no hassle. That''s no small benefit, especially considering the increase in West Nile and Lyme Disease across the country," Shadrin said.

Buzz Off will also be carried by Ex Officio, a Seattle-based company owned by The Orvis Company, Inc. Their garments are distributed in specialty outdoor, fly fishing, travel, and luggage stores throughout the U.S. and the world.

Orvis, the oldest continuously operated catalog company in the country, has been the premier outfitter of the distinctive country lifestyle and sporting traditions since 1856. The company''s international headquarters are in Manchester, Vermont.